AIA Kansas City: The American Institute of Architects

Andrea Ponsi, renowned Italian architect, writer, product designer and artist, will be lecturing at the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University. His slide-illustrated presentation is entitled and is scheduled for Friday, April 2, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre of the K-State Student Union.

The lecture is open to the public without charge.

Andrea Ponsi was born in Viareggio and graduated in Florence in 1974 under Leonardo Savioli. He then took a Master’s in Architecture at the Architectural Association in London and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Since the early 70’s, Ponsi has focused on the relationship between ecology and architecture. In 1977, he published “The Solar House,” a monographic study on bioclimatic architecture. In the 1980s, he lived in San Francisco where he worked with Peter Calthorpe and Sim Van Der Ryn, drawing up projects based on the concept of environmental sustainability.

His work, both as a designer and as an architect, has been the subject of publications and personal exhibitions in Italy, the U.S. and South America. In 2000, he won the international competition for the building of the Palos Verdes Art Center in Los Angeles. His professional activity also includes urban furnishing projects, commercial interiors and preparing exhibitions. As a product designer, he holds numerous patents.

Ponsi has taught architectural planning and design at several universities, including the University of California in Berkeley, the Technion Institute in Haifa, Israel and the University of Toronto. At present, he is an adjunct professor at Syracuse University and Kent State University in Florence and in the United States.

He is also the author of a number of monographs on his design activity (“Elementary Design,” “The Copper House,” “Thinking Lines”) and two studies on urban space (“Florence: A Map of Perceptions” and “Firenze Changing Viewpoints”).

Clafl in Books and Copies will have copies of “Florence: A Map of Perceptions” available for purchase and signing by the author at the conclusion of this lecture.

Attendance at the lecture can be submitted as continuing education credit by design professionals by contacting Diane Potts.